Letters to the editor: Error of omission

Error of omission

I'm surprised and disappointed that The News Journal failed to even mention Padua Academy in the recent article on St. Mark’s High School, especially in the reference to success stories of three other Catholic high schools mentioned.

Padua has approximately 600 young women. The school routinely has to turn away students because of the high demand. The tuition is comparable with St. Mark’s and St. Elizabeth, but less than Archmere, Ursuline or Salesianum.

Padua provides a strong education, and just as importantly, a sisterhood, spirituality, sense of service, and sports excellence. The school has won numerous national awards, as well as state sports championships.

The current head of school, Cindy Hayes Mann, has been instrumental and nonstop in transforming Padua into a first-class institution, modernizing the programs, technology, facilities, uniforms, and attitude within the school.

I believe you did an injustice by failing to research or mention Padua in your article.

Kathryn Montgomery

Wilmington

Arts key to cultural health

I am so grateful for the leadership and insight provided by Guillermina Gonzalez and the Delaware Arts Alliance. Though the economic impact of the arts is an important story, it is not the whole story.

Arguably, the non-economic impacts of the arts are more influential than the monetary ones as they have the power to create, or erode, a community, a city, a state, or a country.

Many of today’s front-burner topics boil down to a withering sense of citizenship and community. Art is protection from that erosion.

By fanning emotional embers; by connecting us with our neighbors, our friends, our enemies; by bridging the past with the future; by giving us a broad context; art builds community. By experiencing those emotions, those connections to people and histories, we become more empathetic and sensitive to our environment—we become better citizens.

Arts are easy to shelve, since artists, generally not seduced by economic rewards, have trouble gaining political traction. But when arts go—when officials tarnish art’s sheen by cutting its already modest funding—community values and citizenship often follow.

In the end, our cultural worth is not measured by what we accumulate, but by the power of our imagination and the nobility of our spirit.

David Amado

Wilmington

Transmission line options welcomed

The Delaware Energy Users Group (DEUG), comprised of Delaware’s largest energy intensive consumers, extends our thanks to the PJM Interconnection, LLC board of directors and staff for their efforts to develop alternative cost allocations for the Artificial Island Transmission Project. We also thank Gov. John Carney, the Delaware Public Service Commission and Delaware Consumer Advocate for their strong efforts to protect Delaware ratepayers from an unfair cost allocation for this project.

Per existing market rules, all Delmarva Peninsula consumers and business were assigned approximately 93 percent of the project’s costs, despite receiving very limited benefits.

Our united Delaware front resulted in PJM’s development of two cost alternatives that reduce Delaware’s allocation down to a 7-10 percent range of total costs. This reduction is a recognition of the inherent fairness of allocating the majority of Project costs to those who derive the greatest benefit.

DEUG will continue to support efforts at the federal government level to approve one of PJM’s alternative cost solutions. To remain competitive, retain jobs and attract new businesses, our communities need this new and fair solution.

Michael K. Messer

President, Delaware Energy Users Group

Tourism cuts would be costly

Funding cuts to the three county tourism bureaus is different from many of the budget cuts that must be made. It’s not a handout. Dollars spent on tourism come back many times over in the form of visitors who spend money on hotels, attractions and restaurants. Tourism is a clean industry that benefits businesses and state residents. For years, Delaware has provided the most meager of budgets to its tourism industry.

In essence visitors pay for the tourism bureaus. Delaware’s percentage of lodging taxes committed to tourism is already in the bottom five in the nation.

The tourism article of June 27 was about the whole state, but Kent and Sussex counties received no mention. That demonstrates one reason we need all three county tourism bureaus. Without a dedicated local convention and visitor’s bureau, Kent County would be forgotten. Smaller attractions statewide and Kent County especially need the support of a dynamic visitor’s bureau. Events like Old Dover Days and the Amish bike race are nurtured and operated by the staff of the visitor’s bureau.